Rigid airship



Jan. 7, 1930. s, P T sz 1,742,969

RIGID AIRSII-XIP Filed Jan. 31, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l AWMW ' ATTORNEYS Jan. 7, 193.0. s. P. PuTusz RIGID AIRSHIP Filed Jan. a1, 1929 Q un-mu 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lTll I LL. INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYJ Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNIT!) stares PANT OFFICE STEVEN PANYKO PU'IU'SZ, F PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY niern AIR-SHIP Application filed January 31, 1929. Serial No. 336,529.

This invention relates toimprovements in rigid airships and particularly the type known as dirigible airships.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for raising or lifting the airship from the ground and said means includes a plurality of vertical lift propellers arranged in series upon the upper wall of'the airship per se;

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel manner and arrangement for driving the above mentioned propellers and said means includes a novel form and arrangement of fluid turbines for accomplishing the results.

A still'further object of this invention is to provide a novel form of landing gear con-' sisting of a plurality of springs supported against the under wall of the airship casing and housed in a flexible container for absorbing shock when the air ship is landed 0r brought to ground.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character having a normal step up system for stepping the-steam pressure to a higher pres sure through the medium of suitable lever mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character having a novel steam release valve for-each of the steam chests whereby safety maybe provided should the steam chest become overcharged with the steam generated from a central steam generator.

A still further object of this invention, is to provide a device of the above mentioned character having means for controlling the flow of steam pressure from the pump to the rotary turbine whereby the same may be controlled according to the desired speed or rotation.

A still further object of this inventon is to provide a device of the above mentioned character in which the steam turbines are arranged in the top wall of the gasket casing so that the motor or turbine is below the level of the casing and in this manner is shielded from cold streams of air to prevent the condensation of the steam before it reaches the rotors of the steam turbines.

A still further object of this invention, is to provide reduction gearing between the steam turbines and the propeller shafts for reducing the ratio between the steam turbine and the propeller thereby gaining considerable lifting power after the power is applied to the propeller.

Other objects and advantages of this'invention will become apparent during the course of the following description and in which:

Figurexl is a longitudinal plan View partly in section showin the relative positions of the driving propellers and the lifting propellers and the manner in which they. are arfor storing the steam and the automatic steam F pumps are also shown for operating the pressure pumps thereby increasing the steam head before reaching the steam turbines;

' Figure 4 is a top elevatonal view showing the steam generator storage tanks, and the arrangement and connection of the same in respect to the airship;

Figure 5 is a top elevational view of the storage tank showing one of the same partly, in section and showing'a novel form of steam release valve for relieving the steam pressure should the same become too great; a

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the steam turbines showing the double sprocket wheels and their arrangement in respect to the airship casing; and

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional View of the after be described in a later paragraph. The

airship A is provided in its interior with a plurality of compartments formed by longitudinal partitions 5 and vertical partitions 6. The vertical partitions 6 are provided with 4 doors 7 so that passage betweenthe compartments may be provided. A central engine compartment is designated at 8 and is adapted to be used as an engine room for motor equipment which will be described in a later paragraph.

Mounted in spaced relation upon the upper wall of the airship casing A is a series of propellers 9 which are mounted upon shafts 10 which project through the casings 11. The casings 11 are for the purpose of protecting the driving mechanism of the propellers 9.

against stream line currents of air which would render the driving mechanlsm inoper able or cause considerable deficiency 1n the operation of the device. 7

The lower periphery of the airship casing -Ais provided with a flexible piece of material 12secured to the ivoted members 13 which extend transverse y through the lower portion of the airship casing and mounted be-' tween the lower wall of the airship casing A and the flexible sheet of material 12 is a plurality of coiled springs 14 for the purpose of absorbing shocks while landing the airship or bringing the same to ground, thereby prevent ing any damage "to the driving apparatus through the medium of shocks and vibrations.

Attention is directed to Figure 3 wherein is shown'a steam generating tank 16 which isadapted to be mounted in the enginecompartment 8 of the airship and which is of a conventional form of steamgenerator which includes a fuel tank 17 having 'a feed pipe 18 for feeding fuel oil tothe burner 19. The usual form of jet is employed and is designated as at 20. A pair of valves 21 and 22 are provided for controlling the flow of air and fuel oil to the burner 19 for heating the water contained in the generator casing 16. The steam generator 16 is adapted to be connected to the series of storage tanks 25 whichare also arranged in the engine room 8 of the airship and preferably in the manner shown in Figlure' 5. The steam generator 16 connects to t e series of steam storage tanks 25 by the pipes 26 and the branch pipes 27.

In each of the storage tanks 25 is provided a release valve 29 which extends through an opening in the ends of the storage tanks 30 as shown in Figure 5 and the valves 29 are in the form of a tapered shaft and they are provided with fixed disks 31 at the tapered end and also a slidable disk 32. A ring 33- pressure against the tension of the spring 34 to pass therethrough. I

The steam driving apparatus will be described and attention is directed primarily to Figures 3 and 4 which show brackets 50 which may be secured to standards in the engine room 8 or upon any suitable support.

The brackets 50 are provided with hearing supports 51 for supporting a longitudinal shaft 52. Upon the longitudinal shaft 52 is mounted a walking beam 53 having upwardly extending ends 54 which are connected b brace rods 55. It will be noted that the walk- 1 ingbeams 53 are mounted at each end of the longitudinal shaft 52 and the walking beams 53 are adapted to be connected by 1ongitudinal bars 56 and shafts 60 are adapted to connect the walking beam portions 53 and formbearing rods for the connecting rods 61 of the automatic steam motors 62. The automatic steam motors 62 include a cylinder casing 63in which is reciprocably mounted a piston 65 as shown best in Figure 3. Steam is admitted to the steam chest 66 through the pipes 67 which are connected tosuitable storage tanks 25.' The steam chest 66 includes the automatic valve operating plungers 70 which control the slide valve 71 for reversing and operating the motion of the; piston 65. Valves 75 may be interposed between the storage tanks 25 and steam chest 66 for controlling the flow of steam pressure thereto for regulating thespeed of the automatic motors 63.

The reciprocating rocker arm53 mounted upon the longitudinal shaft 52 causes reciprocating motion to the connecting rods 80 of the steam pump 81. The steam pump 81 includes a reciprocating piston'82 mounted on the connecting rods 80 and adaptedto reciprocating in the cylinder 81 through the medium of the above mentioned rocker arm. Pipes 83 are adapted to connect the steam storage tanks 25 to the steam pump cylinders 81 and interposed in the pipes 83 are check valves84 for. admitting steam to the cylinders81 whereby the same is pumped through the pipes 85in which is alsoplacedcheck-valves 86 for allowing the steam to pass therethrough in one direction only. The steam then passes to the manifold pipes 89 which are controlled by I.

valves 90 for controlling the. amount of fluid pressure or steam pressure. theretlirough.

Pipes 89 are provided for taking the steam pressure fromthe manifold pipes which connect all ofthe pumps and pipes 89 and valves 90 are interposed inthepipes 89 for controlling the flow of steam pressure therethrough and the valves are connected to an operating rod 91 which extends the length of the shaft 52 and which is adapted to connect to each of the valves 90 for operating the same in uni- -;-son thereby controlling the outputs of steam pressure through the pipes 89 to the rotary steam turbines which will be described in a later paragraph.

The end cylinders are connected to the front and rear propeller turbines and pipes 87 are employed for conducting the steam pressure thereto. Valves 88 are interposed in the pipes 87 and said valves are controlled by an operating rod 91 which is forked at each end to connect to each of the opposite end valves. The operating rod 91 is only shown forked at one end in Fig. 4, but is adapted to be formed the same at each end as above described.

Attention is directed to Figures 6 and 7 which show in detail the rotary steam turbines and as shown each of the turbines includes a double casing formed by sections 92 and 93 and each of the sections are provided with flanges 92 and 93 respectively which are adapted to support a dividing plate 95.

In this manner chambers 96 and 97 are formed for the rotors 98 which are provided with peripheral steam pockets 99. Steam is adapted to enter the chamber 96 through the steam pipes 89 and in a like manner, steam is adapted to enter the upper casing or chamber 97 through the other steam supply pipe 89. The upper portion of the casing 93 is provided with a flange 100 which extends through a circular opening in the upper wall of the casing A. The upper portion of the compartment 97 is closed by a top wall 101 and is provided with a bearing surface 102 while the lower casing section 92 is provided with a similar bearing surface or bearing member 103. Mounted in the bearings 102 and 103 is a rotary shaft 104 upon which the rotors 98 are mounted. The rotary shaft 104 extends into a reduction gear casing 105 which includes suitable reduction gearing for connecting to the propeller shaft 10. It will be thereby noted that steam entering the p1pe 89 will pass into the ports 106 in the casings 7 93 and into the chambers 97 thereby causing rotation of the steam turbine rotors 98 which impart rotary motion to the rotary shaft 104 and thereby cause the propellers 9 to be driven at a slower rate of speed than the rotation of the shaft 104 by the use of suitable reduction gearing 105. After the steam has passed through one of the casings, it passes through the branch orbypass pipe 89 to the next rotary turbine where itperforms a similar function and operation. Each of the steam turbines is provided with; an; exhaust port 110 which connects to exhaust pipes 111. and which passes't-othe next: exhaust pipes 111'. In this. manner, the steam is adapted to pass'from the steampump 81 throughthe pipes 89--andmake a complete circuit of thesteam turbines and cause rotation to the propellers 9' and the ex? haustis completed through thepipes 111. and 111'.

All of the apparatus above described. may be formed of duraluminum in. order. to decrease the weight of the a-irship'perse and afford an easier lifting'capacityto the propellers 9. The storage tanks-25 and the pipes" connecting the same to the pumps 81 and automatic lubricating motors 63 may also be formed of duraluminum or; other light ma terial; which will stand the pressure created by the steam. generator 16, the steam turbine:

casingmay also be made of aluminum. or other: light, material. as well. as the rotary turbine motors.

It is quite advantageous to step up the steam by the use of the walking beam: 53 which affords. a greater pressure upon the turbine rotors thereby affording more lifting' power to the propellers 9* which is necessary.

It. is to be understood that various changes in the shape, size. and arrangement. of the parts of the invention maybe resorted to -without departing from. the spirit of the in;

vertical partitions formed in the interior of V the casingv thereby: forming; compartments. a spring pressed landing platform mounted on the. opposite side of. said elongated casing for preventing; shocks caused by. landing to the rotary. turbines and-the operating mechanism. therefor. and a steam power plant mountedin one of'thezabove mentioned compartments including a steam generator, storage tanks for collecting thesteam generated by said steam generator, and automatic steam motors for pumping the steam to the rotary:

turbines whereby a greater headii's supplied to the steam pressure before entering" the rotary turbines.

2- In a rigid airship ofth'e-character' described",.includin'g an elon'gated'casing said casing being tapered at? opposite ends, front and rear propellers mounted on the tapered portions of said casing, a series of vertical lifting propellers mounted on the upper portion of said elongated casing and said propellers being in longitudinal alignment, rotary steam turbines for driving the'propellers, the rotary steam turbines of the upper series of lifting propellers being mounted below the level of the elongated casing for preventing currents of air from contacting therewith, longitudinal and vertical partitions mounted in the interior of said elongated casing for forming compartments therein, means for operating the rotary steam turbines, said means including a steam generator, storage tanks connected to said steam generator for storing the steam generated thereby, automatic steam motors being connected to the steam storage tanks, steam pumps adapted 'to be operated by said automatic steam motors, pipes connecting said storage tanks to said above mentioned pumps, check Valves mounted in said connections, pipes leading from said pumps to the rotary steam turbines, and check valves mounted in said pipes, a flexible landin platform mounted on the underside of said elongated casing, coil springs mounted between the flexible landing platform and the underside of said elongated casing, for absorbing shock,

thereby preventing damage to the steam mounted on the upper periphery of said elon- I elongated casing, coiled springs mounted between the underside of said elongated casing and the landing platform, steam generating apparatus mounted in the interior of said elongated casing, including a steam generating tank, steam storage tanks connected to said steam generator, automatic reciprocating motors connected to said storage tanks, steam pumps also being connected to said storage tanks, cranks and levers associated with said automatic reciprocating motors and pumps for operating the steam pumps, check valves mounted in the connection for the storage tanks and the pumps, pipes leading from said pumps having check valves therein to'said rotary steam turbines, and the steam storage tanks, automatic reciprocating motors, reciprocating steam pumps and the pipe connections thereto being formed of duraluminum metal or other suitable light STEVEN PANYKO PUTUSZ.

generating power plant and to the steam turbine.

3. In a rigid airship of the character clescribed, including an elongated casing, longitudinal. and vertical'partitions mounted in the interior of said elongated casing, whereby compartments are formed therein, front and rear propellers mounted in the elongated casing, a series of vertical lifting propellers mounted on the upper periphery of said elongated casing, said propellers being mounted in longitudinal ailgnment, steam turbines for operating the above mentioned propellers, said steam turbines being formed of duraluminum, a steam generating plant in one of the above mentioned compartments,

said steam generating plant including a steam generator, storage tanks connected to said steam generator, automatic steam motors connected to said storage tanks, steam pumps adapted to'be operated by said automatic steam motors also adapted to be connected to the storage tanks, check Valves mounted in the connections between the storage tanks and the pumps, and pipe line forv feeding the rotary steam generator connected to" the steampumps, and one-way valves mounted in said steam pipe. i "4-.In a rigid airship of the character described, including' an elongated casing tapered at opposite ends, front and rear propellersmounted at the tapered ends, steering mechanism mounted on the elongated casing,

aplu'rality of vertical lifting propellers 

